September. For some students, this means pulling out their highlighters and index cards, forwarding their term bill to their parents. For many more, however, this time of year means pulling out their pockets and realizing they need to borrow money in order to go to class the following Monday.

This reality is the higher education system in the United States. One is expected to graduate from high school, apply to elite universities, and bury themselves in debt that will last them decades. Americans feel trapped in a system where they cannot find a job without a college degree, and it's getting even more competitive. Now, higher education is growing from the typical 4 years, with more students needing a master's degree to get an extra edge in their field.

Don't get me wrong, though. Boycotting education altogether is not the answer. To the contrary, a more educated population is important for not only personal growth but the growth of our entire society.

The true problem lies in the price of our education. Americans spend, on average, $30,000 on college every year per student. When the bottom third of Americans make no more than $37,415, it is strikingly evident that not everyone has access to those degrees without borrowing a massive amount money, blocking off tens of millions of Americans from entering the workforce without being weighed down by student loans. But this financial insecurity is not limited to those who are struggling to make ends meet. "Nearly 70 percent of all college graduates with a bachelor's degree from a public institution have student loan debt," cites a Forbes article (3).

That sounds really far out and distant, so let's focus back in on the micro-level: the American student. What happens when high school graduates see the staggering debt that their older siblings are facing post-university-graduation? Some are discouraged from enrolling in the very beginning, but even more are deterred from finishing college after already starting. A blanket of hopelessness drapes over them, even within the second week of classes. One student comments, "I don't how I'll pay for next semester. I don't even know if it's all worth it anymore."

That sentiment is not only depressing but also dangerous. These students are not unmotivated or distracted, as suggested by political pundits from previous generations. They are frustrated and terrified. Mere years ago, that "barista with a bachelor's degree" is a punchline but now is a stunning reality for an entire generation.